Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1887-05-07


Cant you give me something to
eat ." said the man.
ooh, yes, sir" said she, eagerly.
81 can get you something to eat"
She showed him into the dining
room, and placed chair for him with
the greatest politeness.
"Please sit down." said she sweet
ly, "and I'll get something for YOU"
There was a pretty black walnut
side-board in the dining-room, and
upon it stood the spoonholder, full
of silver spoons. AS soon as Alice
had left the room the stranger rose
and tiptoed softly over to the spoons.
However, he was in his chair, where
she had left him, when she returned.
She had in one hand plate, with
three slices ofvery nicely spread bread
and butter, and in the other a little
tumbler, with perhaps four spoon
fuls of honey in it. She looked hest
tatingly at the man, then at the
honey.
"Pve got some bread and butter for
YOU" said she, in her gentle little
voice; "but l didn't know-do you
like hOney?"
eyes," said the man, with a kind
of grunt. 1t hardly sounded like yes,
but it was evidently meant for that.
Alice went up to the dining table,
and spread the honey daintily on the
slices of bread and butter. Then she
handed the plate to the man, and he
fell to eating.
She sat down in a chair opposite,
and watched him little wistfully.
She was, as her mother said, very
fond of honey, and she did not have
it every day, and this was the last
there was in the house. 1t seemed
like a little self-denial ; but then she
was a little girl and dealt only in
small treasures.
The man munched his bread and
butter and honey, and seemed to en-.
Joy it she thought. She wanted tC
ask him if he did, but did not quite
get up her courgae. The man tCa'
rather rough and queer looking.
won't you have some more bread
and butter ?" said she, when he got
up. finally and set the empty plate or
the table. "That was all the honey
but there's more bread and butter.
"No, thank ye," said the man.
lie stood moment, looked at hel
curiously. Then he put his hand ir
his pocket, and drew out a bundle
wrapped in an old newspaper. H'
laid it carefully on the table.
"There's somethin' fer you," sale
he. "Don't open it for an hour
though, mind. It's to pay you foI
the bread an honey, you can tel
your folks. Cause you didn't Civ,
me a crust, and shut the door in my
face, the way they generally do"
THANK YOU" said Alice, looking
at the bundle in amazement.
After the man was gone, she huns
over it and could hardly wait unit
the hour was up. When it was sh,
opened the package with trembling
fingers. There were-all their owl
silver spoons. There was no doub
about it-there was her mother
monogram on every one. She stud
led them over and over, and thel
turned and looked at the spoonholde
on the sideboard. 1t was empty.
When Mr.. and Mrs. Armstrong re
turned they found Alice sitting a
the table, staring at the spoons in
brown study.
go motherw she cried. so faith
err! what do you suppose he mean
by giving me our own spoons for tn
bread and butter and honey?"
"What?" cried her father an,
mother together.
Then Alice told her story. Whel
it was finished, Mrs. Armstron
caught her up in her lap and huge
her tight. y
81 guess I'll never leave you alon
again, if know it, said she. eve
have somebody-we'll get a watc
l dog" To Alice's great astonishmer
her mother was actually crying.
Her father looked pale himself, br
he spoke and laughed lightly to IT
assure Alice.
e 81 am not sure but the bread an
butter and honey, with good littl
; heart to set it on, was the very be-
kind of a watch dog that she coul
n have had, said he.
e -Four Decades.